Bleak Creek: Tyler Hatzikian and Mike Siordia surf a fluke wave and a right into the Harbor Room.

Siordia laying low, feeling the flow and pushing it as far as his fin can hold in.

Photos by Mike Balzer

by: Eddie Solt

While the phrase “Somewhere in (insert geographical name as broad CA)” seems to be the redundant phrase in acceptable location captions, even if we named names good luck trying to score this spot. Let’s just say, deck shoes, a Tommy Bahama Shirt, and a hankering for Jimmy Buffet are in beachside tastes. One quick clue, we are a publication dedicated to covering LA County.

It seems that contemporary “loggers” feel the need to grab rail on frontside bottom turns, doing this pose sometimes on 2-foot waves. Hatzikian calls Bullshit and draws a radical line without the crutch. Notice his arm or lack of it.

With a correctly angled healthy southern hem and tide mixed in with the patience of hourly surf checks powered by donuts and coffee, Tyler Hatzikian and his teamrider Mike Siordia took to the water in as some deemed it, “a once in a 20-year day.” The duo paddled out to enjoy a session most likely not felt or seen since the ‘60s with the wave being perfectly contoured for hotdoggin’ and noseriding. (In fact it was one of the best longboard lefts back in day as overheard from Hap Jacobs).

Hatzikian, perched and perfectly pitched in the pocket while Siordia cheers him on.

The bummer was dodging tires, driftwood, the occasional used condom and other LA runoff as well as an instant ear infection for one of the crew. Pass the Hydrogen Peroxide and a BL Smoothie Please!

With a post Bloody Mary at the Harbor Room in Playa Del Rey, Hatzikian and Siordia relaxed in their barstools of post surf bliss.

Was Hatzikian really “takin’ it to it” on this cutback or turning to avoid another oil slick and patch of city garbage?

Taking it as close to the rocks as possible, Hatzikian tips in deep and steep using the nose as a functional, section avoid-er, maneuver.

Smoother than a butter knife cleaning a mayo jar, Siordia steps in and takes a bow.